Michelin is pleased to unveil the 16th restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka. Unveiled during a Ceremony held at Hotel Okura Kyoto, this year’s selection recommends a unprecedented total of 469 restaurants, including 172 Starred ones and 108 Bib Gourmand.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to unveil our latest restaurant selection for Kyoto and Osaka, which features a record number of establishments. Together, these restaurants highlight how both cities not only cultivate a deep appreciation for excellence but also continue to push the boundaries of fine dining. Whether it’s elevating gastronomic standards—reflected in the promotion of three restaurants to Two MICHELIN Stars—preserving timeless hospitality traditions, or embracing new concepts, such as restaurant milpa earning Japan’s first MICHELIN Star for Mexican cuisine, Kyoto and Osaka remain unmissable culinary destinations for anyone traveling to Japan”
Three restaurants newly awarded Two MICHELIN Stars
Nestled in a century-old Sukiya-style house in Kyoto and named after the famous Zen painting series Jugyuzu (’Pictures of Ten Oxen’), Kodaiji Jugyuan pays homage to the traditions of the past and the customs of the ancient capital. The menus also feature exceptional meat-based preparations, where the chef skillfully incorporates Western cooking techniques, staying true to his motto: exploring new directions while safeguarding the traditions of Kyoto gastronomy.
Illustrating the progressive and consistent gastronomic evolution of Kyoto and Osaka’s food scene, the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have promoted three restaurants from One MICHELIN Star to Two MICHELIN Stars.
Still in Kyoto, Sanso Kyoyamato is located in a historic building surrounded by gardens, with decor changing to reflect the seasons. Since its establishment in 1877, the restaurant has preserved the finest flavors and techniques, offering an exquisite Kyo-kaiseki dining experience. Each dish is a masterpiece, showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients and the artistry of Chef Mitsuo Nakajima, while the service, led by proprietress Junko Sakaguchi, offer guests a comprehensive understanding of Japanese culture.
In Osaka, Oimatsu Hisano serves as an ambassador for the finest seasonal produce, which Chef-owner Masamitsu Hisano sources from across Japan.
With these new promotions, alongside the restaurants that have retained their distinction in 2025, there are a total of 27 establishments recommended with Two MICHELIN Stars in this year’s selection—16 in Kyoto and 11 in Osaka.
10 restaurants received their first MICHELIN Star
Out of these newly awarded restaurants, six in Kyoto and four in Osaka are joining the selection with One MICHELIN Star.
In Kyoto, the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors were impressed by the contemporary cuisine at restaurant shiro, which blends Japanese techniques with modern Italian flavors. Tsujifusa and Nakamitsu, both kappo-style restaurants, offer distinct culinary approaches: Tsujifusa is deeply rooted in tradition, while Nakamitsu skillfully alternates between respecting classic flavors and embracing innovation. Finally, at Kikunoi Sushi Ao—the sister restaurant of Three MICHELIN Starred Kikunoi—Inspectors appreciated the unique work on fish, incorporating modern twists such as prawns roasted over charcoal and conger eel seasoned with black seven-spices and pepper tree buds. Additionally, another two Kyoto restaurants have been promoted to One MICHELIN Star, demonstrating significant culinary growth: Jean-Georges at The Shinmonzen, a French-cuisine establishment, and Miyawaki, a creative Japanese-cuisine restaurant.
In Osaka, Japanese cuisine is well represented at Nishitemma Ichigaya and Katamachi Kawaguchi. The former, a counter-style restaurant, focuses on exceptional local ingredients like Naniwa black beef, while the latter highlights authentic flavors that shine through their subtle balance and harmony. At Rooots Nakanoshima, the menu, which was developed by the chef-owner who has 11 years of experience in Italy, offers diners an Italian-based, genre-defying cuisine. Mexican cuisine has been awarded One MICHELIN Star, with restaurant milpa earning this distinction. Chef Willy Monroy creates innovative dishes that pay homage to indigenous ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
In total, 75 restaurants in Kyoto and 65 in Osaka are listed with One MICHELIN Star within the 2025 selection of the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka.
The MICHELIN Green Star highlights the inspiring vision and commitment of two new restaurants
The MICHELIN Green Star recognizes restaurants within the MICHELIN Guide selection that lead the industry when it comes to redefining gastronomy by rethinking their establishment’s impact and implementing eco-friendly-driven initiatives.
This year, two restaurants newly see their inspiring vision and commitments highlighted with a MICHELIN Green Star: Bib Gourmand restaurant Vegan Ramen UZU, which becomes the very first ramen restaurant across the world to be rewarded a MICHELIN Green Star, and selected ristorante DONO. At the second one, chef Toshifumi Nakahigashi takes inspiration from his father’s Two-Stared and Green-Starred restaurant Sojiki Nakahigashi, cultivating his own fields, growing vegetables and picking wild ingredients nearby the restaurant.
Together with these new restaurants and those which maintain their distinction, 13 restaurants – 10 in Kyoto and 3 in Osaka – proudly showcase a MICHELN Green Star.
Nine new Bib Gourmand restaurants and 59 new additions to the main selection
Contributing to the expansion of the culinary landscape in the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka selection, 59 restaurants have been added to the main selection this past year under the 'Selected' category. These establishments, offering a wide range of cuisines such as Chinese, Tempura, Yakitori, Italian, and Sushi, provide diverse options for enjoying nice culinary experiences across the two cities.
Finally, nine restaurants have newly received the coveted Bib Gourmand distinction, highlighting their outstanding value for money. In Kyoto, these include ramen restaurant Kombu to Men Kiichi, izakaya Komedokoro Inamoto, and soba restaurants Chikuyuan Taro no Atsumori and Saryo Tesshin. In Osaka, the new Bib Gourmand recipients are tempura restaurant Tenboshi, Spanish-cuisine restaurant Ueroku Wine, tonkatsu restaurant Kyomachibori Nakamura, izakaya Daidokoro Kamiya, and Italian-cuisine restaurant PRESTAU.
MICHELIN Special Awards
In its continued dedication to celebrating the diverse talents and expertise within the restaurant industry, the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka congratulates the recipients of the Service Award and Mentor Chef Award, recognising their significant contributions to delivering outstanding gastronomic experiences and to developing the local industry.
The MICHELIN Service Award in the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka 2025 goes to Junko Sakaguchi, proprietress of Kyoto’s newly awarded Two MICHELIN Star restaurant, Sanso Kyoyamato. Raised in a family deeply rooted in Japanese culinary traditions, she honed her expertise through studies abroad and mentorship under her mother. Now the seventh-generation proprietress, she seamlessly blends tradition and hospitality, welcoming guests in kimono and engaging them with warmth and grace. Her heartfelt service, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to convey the restaurant’s elegance—both in Japanese and English—make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
The 2025 MICHELIN Mentor Award is presented to Yoshichika Masuda, chef-owner of Masuda in Osaka, a One MICHELIN Star Japanese restaurant. Since opening Masuda in 1999, he has nurtured many young chefs, guiding them toward independence while preserving the traditions of Japanese cuisine. Leading by example, he shares his expertise at the counter, demonstrating techniques and the art of hospitality firsthand. His dedication to passing on knowledge and promoting Japanese culinary culture makes him a truly deserving recipient of this award.
The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka at a glance:
8 Three MICHELIN Star restaurants
5 in Kyoto ; 3 in Osaka
27 Two MICHELIN Star restaurants (of which 3 new)
16 in Kyoto ; 11 in Osaka
137 One MICHELIN Star restaurants (of which 10 new)
72 in Kyoto ; 65 in Osaka
13 MICHELIN Green Star restaurants (of which 2 new)
10 in Kyoto ; 3 in Osaka
108 Bib Gourmand restaurants (of which 9 new)
49 in Kyoto ; 59 in Osaka
189 selected restaurants (of which 59 new)
96 in Kyoto ; 93 in Osaka
The restaurants join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay in Kyoto, Osaka, and throughout the world. Every hotel in the selection is chosen by MICHELIN Guide experts for its extraordinary style, service, and personality — with options for all budgets — and each hotel can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website and app.
Visit the MICHELIN Guide’s official website, or download the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Android), to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an unforgettable hotel.
